When Respirator Fit Tests Fail

There may be instances in which the fit test fails. This can be due to many factors, including the following:

• When there is any hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface (e.g., a stubble beard, mustache, or sideburns) that prevent a proper seal.
• When an employee has trouble breathing during the tests. In this situation, the employer must refer the employee to a physician.

In any of these cases (or others in which the employee deems the respiratory protection unacceptable), the employee may choose another type of respirator and take the test again.

To learn more about Respiratory Protection visit our Respiratory Protection Online Training web page.